Federer into Open final as Chung retires injured
MELBOURNE — Defending champion Roger Federer strolled into the Australian Open final in a bitter-sweet win after Chung Hyeon's retired injured in their semifinal on Friday.
The Swiss star was leading 6-1, 5-2 when the South Korean called it quits with foot blisters and will now face Marin Cilic in Sunday's final.
Chung, the first South Korean man or woman to play in a Grand Slam semifinal, was treated in a medical timeout for the left foot problem two games earlier.
But it came as a big surprise when the 21-yearold walked to the net at 3030 and trailing 2-5 after 1hr 02mins in the second set to concede defeat.
It put Federer into his seventh Australian final as he chases his sixth Melbourne title and 20th Grand Slam victory.
Federer leads 2014 US Open champion Cilic 8-1 in their meetings.
The Swiss maestro now has a 30-13 win-loss record in Grand Slam semifinals and has yet to drop a set in this year's Australian Open.
"You couldn't tell until the end," he said of Chung's injury problems. "That's probably why a lot of people are stunned (he retired).
"I could tell something was wrong before he took the injury timeout, but he has a great composure.
"I think he is already a great player, but we are talking next level excellence and I think he will achieve that.
"We will see much more of him. Top 10 for sure. The rest we will see."
It was a muted semifinal with the Rod Laver Arena retractable roof closed for rain further improving Federer's chances given his indoor record.
He broke Chung's opening service and twice more to romp away with the first set in just 33 minutes as the Korean made a flurry of errors.